Dating Violence and STD/HIV Are Serious Public Health Concerns for Sexually Active Teen Girls

Dating violence, a major public health concern for adolescents, has recently been shown to affect approximately one in three (31.5 percent) sexually active adolescent girls. Of the girls who experience dating violence, 15.3 percent experienced physical dating violence only, 6.7 percent experienced sexual dating violence only, and 9.5 percent experienced both forms of violence./1/

These findings, presented in an article published in the August issue of Pediatrics, are based on data collected from 1,641 ninth-to-twelfth-grade female students who completed the 1999 and 2001 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey and reported ever having engaged in sexual intercourse. Most of the girls in this sample were white (75 percent) with the next largest groups being Latina (10.6 percent), black (8.4 percent), and Asian (3.0 percent).

Of the surveyed girls, those who reported both physical and sexual violence from their dating partners were more likely to have been tested for and diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) than girls who had not experienced dating violence. The authors of this study note that this finding is consistent with previous research in this area. However, one new finding revealed by this study is a unique pattern of STD/HIV testing and diagnosis among girls who are sexually active based on the kind of dating violence they experience.

Girls who reported sexual dating violence only were more likely to get tested for both STD and HIV than girls who had not experienced dating violence. Girls in the former group were not, however, at an increased risk of actual infection. By contrast, girls who reported experiencing physical dating violence only were more likely to get tested for STD only (and not HIV) than girls who had not experienced dating violence; and they reported higher rates of infection.

The authors of this study suggest a few reasons for this pattern of STD/HIV testing. For girls who reported sexual dating violence only, the authors suggest that this type of dating violence may be related to incidents that occur outside of a relationship, such as date rape, leading girls to perceive STD/HIV risk and seek STD/HIV testing. These girls may also seek sexual assault services and be referred for STD/HIV testing. For girls who reported physical dating violence only, the authors suggest that they are more likely to get tested for STD as a result of becoming symptomatic. Physically abused girls, according to the authors, may be less likely to practice safe sex, and their abusive partners may be more likely to engage in higher STD/HIV risk behaviors. Not only are these girls more likely to be tested for STD, but also they are more likely to be diagnosed with actual infection.

Girls who reported both sexual and physical dating violence may get tested for both STD/HIV because they may be experiencing both chronic coerced and forced sex. They perceive greater STD/HIV risk leading them to get tested for both. These girls may also have more contact with medical settings where they disclose their abuse or STD/HIV risk behaviors, resulting in greater STD/HIV testing.

The authors of this study urge that, in light of the association between teen dating violence and STD/HIV (both significant public health issues), prevention programming should be developed and supported.

1. Michele R. Decker et al., Dating Violence and Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV Testing and
Diagnosis Among Adolescent Females, Pediatrics, Aug. 2005, available at www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2005-0194.

Volume 9, Issue 5
September 1, 2005